Curriculum
Professional Degree | Research Degrees | Course Descriptions
Professional Degree: MLA_1
Typically a student who has no previous education in landscape architecture takes three years to complete the MLA_1 degree. Applicants with major or minors in landscape design, or a degree in a related design field such as architecture or urban design may apply for advanced standing. Advanced standing applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, and no more than a year’s advanced standing may be granted. The MLA_1 track requires 23 hours undergraduate preparation and 84 hours of graduate coursework.
Typical career paths for students with this degree include working in private or public practice for landscape architecture firms, landscape architecture units within architecture and engineering firms, federal, regional, state and municipal government agencies, universities and colleges requiring professional licensure.
Research Degrees: MLA_2 | MALA | MSLA
Research-oriented degrees offer students with professional degrees the opportunity for further specialized study (MLA_2) or prepare students with no previous formal study in landscape architecture to pursue specialized research or other career paths related to landscape architecture that do not require professional licensure (MALA, MSLA). Applicants interested in research-oriented degree paths should contact the LA Program Chair.
Course Descriptions:
PLANT SCIENCES
PS 220 220 Basic Landscape Plants (3) Identification, classification, adaptation, and culture and
landscape design uses of basic ornamental trees, shrubs, and vines.
Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours and 1 lab.
3 cr
PS 350 350 Basic Landscape Construction (3) Introduction to the landscape construction and
contracting industry. Basic materials, construction detailing, design, and application of hardscape
elements. Site grading and drainage.
Contact Hour Distribution: 2 hours and 1 lab.(RE) Prerequisite(s): 280.
3 cr
PS 380 380 Visualization/Representation I (3) Introduction and development of graphic skills. Sketches,
elevations, sections, isometric projections, and perspectives. Lettering, plan graphics, color
rendering, and other visual presentation media including digital media for portfolio production.
Contact Hour Distribution: Two 2-hour labs.
(RE) Prerequisite(s): PS 280 or Graduate Landscape Architecture admission.
3 cr
PS 421 421 Native Plants in the Landscape (3) Native plants and plant communities as a basis for
landscaping and environmental restoration. Weekly lecture coupled with either an outing or service
practicum of invasive exotic plant removals or planting of natives. Study and work sites will
primarily be demonstration projects of the University of Tennessee Environmental Landscape
Design Lab. They include local schoolyard habitats, greenways, wetlands, streambanks, and
shorelines.
Registration Restriction(s): Prerequisite(s): PS220 or Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 330 or Landscape
Architecture Program – landscape architecture major. (DE) Prerequisite(s): 210.
3 cr
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOIL SCIENCES
SS 220 210 Introduction to Soil Science (4) Differences in soils; soil genesis; and the physical,
chemical, and biological properties of soil. Relation of soil to land use and pollution. Soil
management relative to tillage, erosion, moisture supply, temperature, aeration, fertility, and plant
nutrition.
Contact Hour Distribution: 3 hours lecture and one 2-hour lab.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
LAR 500
500 Thesis (1-15)
Grading Restriction: P/NP only. Repeatability: May be repeated.
6 cr
LAR 501 501 Introduction to Sustainable Design (3) Introduction to design and planning as intellectual
disciplines that shape and sustain regional and global environments. Addresses landscape
architecture, architecture, urban design, and planning perspectives and theory.
Registration Restriction(s): Admission to Graduate Landscape Architecture, Graduate Architecture. Registration
Permissions: Consent of Instructor.
3 cr
LAR 503 503 Landscape Architecture: Histories and Theories I (3) Survey of landscape history and
theory from pre-history to approximately 1500 in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Examination of
theories, land forms, settlement patterns, in cultural and historical contexts.
Registration Restriction(s): Graduate Landscape Architecture admission – landscape architecture major.
3 cr
LAR 504 504 Landscape Architecture: Histories and Theories II (3) Survey of
landscape history and theory from approximately 1500 to the present in
Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Examination of theories, land forms, settlement
patterns, in cultural and historical contexts.
(DE) Prerequisite(s): 503.
3 cr
LAR 520 520 Visualization/Representation II (3) Advanced exploration of drawing
as a means of visual thinking and communication, addressing perception of phenomena. Includes
further development of manual graphic capabilities, as well as introduction of emerging digital
techniques for mapping and landform modeling applicable to large-scale projects.
(DE) Prerequisite(s): Plant Sciences 380.
3 cr
LAR 531 531 Advanced Landscape Architecture Construction (3) Documentation
of landscape, hardscape, and architectural elements in the landscape
with an emphasis on appropriate design and detailing for sustainability.
Includes site engineering elements and principles.
(DE) Prerequisite(s): Plant Sciences 350.
3 cr
LAR 540 540 Planting Design (3)Analysis of plant forms, function and composition.
Problems faced in design of small scale areas with emphasis on orientation,
arrangement and use.
Delete: (DE) Prerequisite(s): Plant Sciences 220.
Add: (RE): Plant Sciences 220 or Graduate Landscape Architecture admission – landscape architecture major.
3 cr
LAR 541 541 Landscape/Site Design I (3)Introduction to basic contour mapping and cartographic
practices. Engages cultural, historical, and conceptual issues. Techniques and design of natural
terrain. Focus on rural (non-urban) settings. Physical and mechanical properties of soils, theory of
compaction, strength of soils, analysis of homogeneous slopes.
Registration Restriction(s): Graduate Landscape Architecture admission – landscape architecture major.
3 cr
LAR 542 >542 Landscape/Site Design II (3). Techniques, concepts, and practices of landscape and garden
design in an urban (non-rural) setting. Engages cultural, historical, and conceptual issues.
(DE) Prerequisite(s): 541.
4 cr
LAR 543 543 Landscape Architecture Design I (6) Fundamentals of landscape design exploring basic
themes/issues of inhabitation, space-making and constructing cultural identities. Studio work
focuses on a range of explorations from small to medium-scale projects using a mixture of analog
and digital media.
(DE) Prerequisite(s): 542.
6 cr
LAR 544 544 Landscape Architecture Design II (6) Focus on large scale community and site planning
and land use issues. Particular emphasis on both urban and rural development through
sustainable design for both human health and natural environments. Exploration of
topical/thematic issues using a mixture of analog and digital media.
(DE) Prerequisite(s): 543.
6 cr
LAR 545 545 Landscape Architecture Design III (6) Advanced studio with urban design focus. Particular
emphasis on design of civic projects that enhance cultural and ecological understanding of place.
(DE) Prerequisite(s): 544.
6 cr
LAR 560 560 Professional Practices (3) Management and organizational theories and practices for
delivering professional design services: historical perspective of the profession in the United
States; assessment of building and landscape industries and their influences on practice; analysis
of basic management functions within professional firms, legal and ethical concerns/imperatives
confronting contemporary practitioners, introduction to special obligations and privileges of design
professionals.
(DE) Prerequisite(s): 542.
3 cr
LAR 561 561 Practicum for Landscape Architecture (3) Supervised experience in a
professional design firm or on a landscape oriented research project. Business or
research practices, management, and design skills. .(RE) Prerequisite(s): 544
3 cr
LAR 570 570 Capstone Studio (6) Advanced, thematically-based (non-thesis) studio.
(DE) Prerequisite(s): 545.
LAR 580 580 Thesis Preparation/Programming (3) Research, planning, and preparation of
thesis document under supervision of candidate’s thesis committee in anticipation of
thesis design studio. (DE) Prerequisite(s): 544.
3 cr
LAR 591 591 International Study (1-9) Individual or group study abroad. Academic research,
field investigation, and/or studio experiences. Determination of credit based on
particular international experience.
Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 12 hours.
Registration Permission(s): Consent of instructor and approval of graduate program in landscape architecture.
1-9 cr
LAR 592 592 Off-Campus Study (1-9) Individual or group study abroad. Academic research,
field investigation, and/or studio experiences. Determination of credit based on
particular off-campus experience.
Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 12 hours.
Registration Permission(s): Consent of instructor and approval of graduate program in landscape architecture.
1-9 cr
Contact Us
College of Architecture + Design
Art + Architecture Building
1715 Volunteer Boulevard,
Room 224
Knoxville, TN 37996
Undergraduate:
phone: (865) 974-5265
fax: (865) 974-0656
email: archinfo@utk.edu
Graduate:
phone: (865) 974-5253
fax: (865) 974-0656
email: gradarchinfo@utk.edu
landscape architecture email:
larchinfo@utk.edu